2017 Mazda MX-5 RF GT Review

FROSTY FASTBACK FUN

DOING THE BRRRRRASS MONKEY IN MAZDA’S MX-5 RF

2017 MAZDA MX-5 RF GT.

There’s an element of perversity in driving an open top sports car through temperatures of minus seven degrees in mid winter.

But the MX-5 Club holds an event every year in July called the Brass Monkey Run that specifies just this kind of driving.

Hundreds of MX-5s venture from Sydney up into the NSW Blue Mountains with the roof off starting at brisk 6.00am. If you put the roof up, you’re out or ridiculed into submission.

I got hold of the new RF (Retractable fastback) GT version of the latest ND MX-5 for the event which could be seen as cheating but actually isn’t because the RF roof opens up nearly the same amount as the MX-5 soft top roadster.

FASTBACK ROOF

The steel, aluminium and plastic structure folds electrically into the an opening behind the two seats leaving a pair of graceful looking roof buttresses tapering to the back along with what you could describe as a targa-top roll bar.

The roof folds in a scant 13 seconds up to a speed of 10kmh.

It transforms the look of the MX-5 into something with elements of E-Type Jag mixed with Fastback Mustang. And it looks great, certainly with more street presence than the humble roadster.

ONLY 1080KG

The roof and operating system add 47 kg to the car’s weight compared with the roadster but it’s still only 1080kg in high end GT spec’.

Power comes from the same 2.0-litre, petrol four cylinder engine as the roadster driving the rear wheels through a six speed manual or optional six speed auto.

SUPERB DYNAMICS

The RF has superb dynamics and an engaging drive feel that makes you want to go somewhere to extend and enjoy its capabilities. Which is what I did taking a back road route home through historic Hill End and other backwoods villages. The RF was in its element and has performance that belies its 118kW/200Nm engine output.